Plans to strip Tasmanian councils of planning powers for certain projects have been rejected by the state’s Upper House, as the government plans to give the reforms another crack.
The state government’s Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) legislation was voted down 8-6 in the Legislative Council on Thursday, with support only coming from Liberal and Labor members.
Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor and independents Rosemary Armitage, Ruth Forrest, Mike Gaffney, Dean Harriss, Tania Rattray, Bec Thomas and Meg Webb opposed the bill.
Former Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas said the government had “completely ignored” local councils, all 29 of which opposed the legislation, in its development.
“The government wants to falsely blame the planning system for stopping housing development to cover its lack of performance in addressing the affordable housing shortage,” she said.
“This legislation … is not about housing. It is a disingenuous attempt to insert those with politically vested interests into the system in an unfair manner against the community’s valid interest in how our state develops.”
Meg Webb labelled the bill “anti-community and anti-democracy”.
“I can hear already the government accusing people who oppose this bill of somehow putting barriers in front of much-needed social and affordable housing in this state. And I would absolutely stand firm in the face of that,” she said.
“If the government and Planning Minister were genuine about getting roofs over heads now, they’d take meaningful action to stem short-stay accommodation, which is suffocating our housing market.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor criticised Planning Minister Felix Ellis and his “disgraceful” comments about councillors being ‘anti-development’ and ‘ideologically motivated’.
“With respect, I hope the Minister with responsibility for local government has taken his colleague Mr Ellis to task here,” she said.
“Because that is not the way to get productive outcomes and have a good working relationship with the local government sector in Tasmania who every day just quietly get on with the job.”
Ellis said the government remains committed to DAPs and will look to again progress the legislation in the new year.
“We will bring the bill back in the new year because we won’t give up on getting people into homes and tradies into jobs,” he said.
The Local Government Association of Tasmania have welcomed the rejection.
“Despite the manner in which the Minister and Premier have denigrated our sector, councils remain open to working with the state government on sensible planning reform,” the association said.
